Carton and locking means therefor



NOV. 3, 1959 DR 2,911,096

CARTON AND LQCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed se t. 15, 1956 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. NOBLE ANDRE BY I W w/blw W ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1959 N. ANDRE2,911,096

CARTON AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. NOBLE ANDRE ATTORNEYS United States PatentO CARTON AND LOCKINGMEANS THEREFOR Noble Andre, San Leandro, Califi, assignor to Andre-Matic Machinery Company, San Leandro, Calif.

Application September 13, 1956, Serial No. 609,617 3 Claims. (Cl.206-65) This invention relates to a carton and locking means therefor,and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved means formedintegral with a pair of walls of a carton for locking the said wallstogether and for holding the carton closed about the articles to be heldtherein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an open ended cartonformed from a single sheet of cardboard and having two opposite endportions of said sheet secured'together to form said carton with meansintegral with said sheet for holding said end portions against relativemovement in different directions during handling of the carton when thelatter is filled.

The carton illustrated in the drawings is similar to the one shown in mycopending application Serial No. 400,675 filed December 28, 1953, nowPatent No. 2,867,320, and to the one shown in my copending applicationSerial No. 557,885, filed Jan. 9, 1956.

In both of the above applications a similar locking means is disclosed,and in each a generally T shaped tab in one wall extends through anopening in another wall of the carton with the ears forming the head ofthe T in lapping relation to two opposite marginal portions along twoopposite edges of the opening through which the tab extends. Since thehead of the T cannot be pulled back through the opening, once the earshave been sprung through it, unless said ears are distorted, the lock iseffected. However, under certain conditions, either climatic or due tothe contents, the locking tabs may tend to curl or become distorted,thereby lessening the security of the lock effected. Attempts toovercome this difiiculty have taken the form shown in my copendingapplication in which a retainer tab is left along one side of theopening through which the T-tab extends, and which retainer tab is bentto one side when the T-tab is sprung through the opening. This retainertab has a free outer edge that is intended to spring back after theT-tab has been sprung through the opening so that its free outer edgewill engage the T-tab near the base of the latter, or the end of the legthat is integrally connected with the wall carrying said T-tab.

The foregoing solution, while elfective to a degree, is insecure sincethe nearer the T-tab can be held in the same plane as the wall carryingit, so that its ears are flat against the side of the other wall, themore secure will be the lock, and in the form shown in my co'pendingapplication the retainer tabs hold the T-tab at a .substantial angle tothe wall carrying it.

This difficulty has been solved in the present invention by making,forming and positioning the retainer tab for each T-tab so that itfunctions similar to a leaf spring and constantly holds the locking earson the T-tab flat against the marginal portion around the openingthrough which each T-tab is sprung.

The provision of structure adapted to accomplish the above result and toovercome the heretofore existing difficulty, is an object of thisinvention.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the.drawings. a

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package, the cartonof which incorporates and discloses the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another carton showing the locking meansof the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton of Fig. 1 isformed, the central part of the blank be- In detail, the package shownin Fig( 1 comprisesa of parallel rows of cylindrical upright cans '1 inside by side relation within'an open ended carrier or carton 2.

The can at the near corner is omittedto show the structure of thecarton.

This carton comprises a substantially oblong blankcreased along spacedparallel lines extending transversely across the blank for folding toprovide an open ended carton having opposed side walls 3, 4, and opposedend walls generally designated 5, '6. a

The folding creases 7, 8 shown in Fig. 3 are in the opposite endportions of the blank and define the junctures between end portions 9,10 and the side walls 3, 4. Theseend portions, together form the endwall 5 that extends over one of the ends of the cans, one portionextending over the corresponding ends of the cans of each row.

The end portions, in turn, are formed with folding creases 11, 12 (Fig.3) that define the junctures between terminating end sections 13, 14 andthe portions inwardly thereof.

Arcuate cuts 15 are formed along the crease lines 7, 8 and the creasesthat define the junctures between the end wall 6. The present carton isfor six cans, three in a row, and when the cans of the two rows are inthe carton, the chimes at their ends will project through the slitsformed at the arcuate' cuts 15. Fig. 1 shows the position of the slitsand the chimes 16 projecting through the slits at the juncture betweenside wall 3 and end wall 6.

Stamped from the end section '13 are a pair of T-tabs 18, that areintegrally connected with the blank at the base end of each T, whichbase end is along crease line 11.

The leg 19 of each T-tab is very short, being substan tially shorterthan the width of the leg, and the head of I each Tv projects oppositelyoutwardly from each leg providing ears 21. The overall width .of theT-tab at the head is preferably greater than the overall lengthincluding the head.

completely cut away, but remains integral with the blank along one edgeof the opening, and which edge is in alignment with the crease 12. Saidcrease may extend along the edge of said opening to define the juncturebetween each retainer tab 23 and section 14, although it prefer-ablyonly extends to the ends of said edge.

In forming the package of Fig. l, the end sections 13, 14 are folded topositions at right angles to the remainders of portions 9, 10 and toabutting relation between the upper ends of the cans of the two rows,and when this occurs, the T-tabs 18 will register with the openings landthe two opposite edges 24, 25 of each opening will be substantiallyaligned-with the opposite edges of the leg of each T-tab and said edgeswill extend across one side of the T-tab at the inner ends of ears 21.Hence the cars 21 will lap the marginal portions of the blank along line' 3 edges 24, 25. The other tab 23 that projects across each open ng 22will, of course, be between the T-tab and the opening that is inregistration therewith.

'Heretofore the integrally connected edges of the tabs 23 has been alongthe outer edge 26 of each opening, which is the exact opposite of thepresent relationship.

In order to lock the portions 9, 10 of the end wall together with theend sections 13, 14 in abutting relation, it is only necessary to springthe ears 21 of each T-tab through each opening 22, by pushing the T-tabinto the space between the end cans of the rows and the center cans. Assoon as the ears 21 clear the edges of the openings they will spring outagain, and as the retainer tabs are resilient, they will yielda'bly urgethe T-tabs against the inner surface of the portion 19 and will hold theT-tab in said position to prevent any curling of the tabs or distortiontending to permit them "to move out of the openings 22. J

This same structure is suitable for use in a carton of the type shown inFig. 2 in which the top wall, generally designated 28 is formed by theend portions of a blank in which one end portion 29 overlaps theopposite end portion 30.

As seen in Fig. 6, the T-tab 31 in end portion 29 extends throughopening 32 in the end portion 39, and the retainer tab 33 that normallyprojects across opening 32 yieldably holds the ears of the T-tab againstthe under surface of the underlying end portion 30.

' Fig. 5 shows the structure of the locking tabs of Fig. 1.

In both of these cartons, the retainer tabs function like leaf springs,maintaining a snug engagement between the ears of the T-tabs and thesurface of the wall having the opening through which the T-tab issprung.

This locking means also tends to hold the parts that they securetogether, against relative movement between said parts. However, anadded improvement in this respect is shown in Fig. 3 in which aplurality of tabs 40 are stamped out of the sections 13, 14 along thecrease lines 11, 12. These tabs are integral with the blank along thelines of said creases, but the creases do not extend across the tabs.Hence, when the end sections 13, 14 are bent for positioning them in theabutting relation of Fig. l and Fig. 4, the tabs 49 will remain coplanarwith the portions 9, that adjoin the creases 11, 12.

The tabs 40 are positioned opposite each other so that the tabs alongthe'one crease line will extend into the openings from which the tabsalong the other crease have been displaced, and said other tabs willoverlie the portion adjoining the opposite end section, as seen in Fig.4. Since the tabs are of the same size along the two creases, the tabsthat enter the openings left by the other tabs will exactly fit in saidopenings thus preventing any movement of the portions 9, 10 in adirection longitudinally of the creases 11, 12. The lapping of the tabslocks the portions 9, 10 against any movement between them transverselyof their planes. 7

The foregoing features provide a more rigid and secure package thanheretofore.

I claim:

1. A package comprising: a pair of parallel rows of upright cylindricalcans in side by side relation, an oblong cardboard blank having spaced,parallel folding creases extending transversely thereacross relative tothe length of said blank, saidblank being folded along said creases toform an open ended carton having a pair of opposed vertical side wallsextending across the oppositely outwardly facing sides of said rows anda pair of opposed end walls extending across the opposite ends of saidcans, one of said end Walls being the two end portions of said blankeach extending horizontally over one only of said rows of cans, aterminal end section integral with at least one of said end portionsextending vertically between said rows of cans in opposed relation tothe cans of the row of cans below said one of said-end p i means forholding said blank tightly about said IQWS 9f .1

comprising a flat horizontally extending and generally horizontallydisposed tab projecting from the other end portion of said two than theone having said end section, said tab being generally T-shape having a.leg integral with said other end portion at one end thereof and a crosshead at the other end of said leg, said leg extending across the upperedge of said terminal end section and said head being disposed betweensaid one end portion and the ends of the row of cans below said one endportion and having horizontally directed edges in substantially opposedrelation to said terminal end section whereby tension placed on said tabin a direction for separating said end portions will be transmitted tothe said terminal end section one side, of which is opposed to saidhorizontally directed edges of the head of said tab, a pair of tabs onsaid other end portion coplanar therewith and at opposite sides of saidT-shaped tab and positioned over said one end portion and extendingacross the upper edge of said end section thereby holding said one endportion against movement past said other end portion in a directionoutwardly of said cans.

2. A package comprising; a pair of parallel rows of upright cylindricalcans in sideby side relation, an oblong cardboard blank having spaced,parallel folding creases extending transversely thereacross relative tothe length of said blank, said blank being folded along said creases toform an open ended carton having a pair of opposed vertical side wallsextending across the oppositely outwardly facing sides of said rows anda pair of opposed end walls extendingacross the opposite ends of saidcans, one of said end walls being the two end portions of said blankeach extending horizontally over one only of said rows of cans, aterminal end section integral with at least one of said end portionsextending vertically between said rows of cans in opposed relation tothe cans of the row of cans below said one f said end portions, meansfor holding said blank tightly about said rows of cans comprising a fiathorizontally extending and generally horizontally disposed tabprojectingfrom the other end portion of said two than the one having said endsection, said tab being generally T-shape having a leg integral withsaid other end portion at one end thereof and a cross head at the otherend of said leg, said leg extending across the upper edge of saidterminal end section and said head being disposed between said one endportion and the ends of the row of cans below said one nd portion andhaving horizontally directed edges in substantially opposed relation tosaid terminal and sec-. tion whereby'tension placed on said tab in adirection for separating said end portions will be transmitted to thesaid terminal end section one side of which is opposed to saidhorizontally directed edges of the head of said 'tab, a pair of tabs onsaid other end portion coplanar therewith and at opposite sides of saidT-shaped tab and positioned over said one end portion and extendingacross the upper edge of said end section thereby holding said one endportion against movement past said other end portion in adirectionoutwardly of said cans, the opposite edges of said leg and the saidhorizontally directed edges of said head adjoining each other atopposite sides of said T-shaped tab and being substantially coincidentalwith two of the adjoining edges of each of the'tabs of said pairthereof.

3. A package comprising; a pair of parallel rows of upright cylindricalcans in side by side relation, an oblong cardboard blank having spaced,parallel folding creases extending transversely thereacross relative tothe length of said blank, said blank being folded along said creases toform an open ended carton having a pair of opposed vertical side wallsextending across the oppositely outwardly facing sides of said rows anda pair of opposed end walls extending across the opposite ends of saidcans,

' one of said end walls being the two end portions of said blank eachextending horizontally over one only of said rows of cans, term na endsection integral with least one of said end portions extendingvertically between said rows of cans in opposed relation to the cans ofthe row of cans below said one of said end portions, means for holdingsaid blank tightly about said rows of cans comprising a fiathorizontally extending and generally horizontally disposed tabprojecting from the other end portion of said two than the one havingsaid end section, said tab being generally T-shape having a leg integralwith said other end portion at one end thereof and a cross head at theother end of said leg, said leg extending across the upper edge of saidterminal end section and said head being disposed between said one endportion and the ends of the row of cans below said one end portion andhaving horizontally directed edges in substantially opposed relation tosaid terminal end section whereby tension placed on said tab in adirection for separating said end portions will be transmitted to thesaid terminal end section one side of which is opposed to saidhorizontally directed edges of the head of said tab, a terminal endsection integral with said other end portion extending between said rowsof cans in abutting relation to said first mentioned terminal endsection, a

pair of tabs on said one end portion coplanar therewith extending acrossthe upper edge of the terminal end section on said other end portion andbelow the said other end portion in engagement with the latter, andopenings formed in said last mentioned terminal end section at thejuncture between the latter and said other end portion through whichsaid pair of tabs extend, the width of each tab in directiontransversely of said blank being substantially equal to the width ofeach of said openings in the same direction thereby holding said endsections against relative movement transversely of said blank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,226,603 Gagen Dec. 31, 1940 2,349,707 DEsposito May 23, 1944 2,361,124Ringholz Oct. 24, 1944 2,559,948 Currie July 10, 1951 2,765,073 MurrayOct. 2, 1956 2,768,741 Currie Oct. 30, 1956 2,786,572 Gentry Mar. 26,1957

